A Focus on Leadership Development

The Stanford GSB is known both as a school of business and a school of leadership.

We understand that you bring years of experience to the table, so the MSx Program focuses on advanced leadership development to help you maximize your full potential — personally and professionally.

The MSx Approach: Learning by Doing

Simply studying leadership isn’t enough. At MSx, you learn by doing — applying leadership skills in real time through classroom and community experiences. You’ll experiment freely in a supportive environment, building both competency and confidence while developing essential skills for significant impact, including:

Critical analysis: the ability to make informed and effective decisions

Self-awareness: knowledge of your personal strengths and weaknesses and how you affect others

Interpersonal acumen: understanding of others’ needs and motivations

Situational awareness: sensitivity to context that influences thinking and behavior

Holistic communication: setting vision and intention through presence and clarity of message

Leadership In Action

Hear from MSx students and alumni on how the program transformed their leadership approach.

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Leadership and Authenticity

Mike Burnett shares how the Stanford MSx program taught him about leadership and how to use his authentic voice.

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A Time for Transformation

Nare Bandaranayake highlights how the Stanford MSx program differentiates itself and creates an environment that encourages change and transformation.

Supporting your Leadership Development

Throughout the program, you’ll have access to courses, assessments, and coaching designed to accelerate your development as a leader.

Leadership Electives	Choose from a variety of leadership-focused electives, including Interpersonal Dynamics, known to many as the “touchy feely” class, Paths to Power, or Strategic Communication.
LEAP 360 Feedback Assessment	Feedback from former managers, direct reports, and colleagues is used to create a personal handbook of your strengths and blind spots, giving you clear direction for development.
Executive Modules	In your first quarter, you will work with a diverse group of your peers to learn and apply leadership skills critical for effective team formation and functioning.
Executive Coaching	Using your LEAP assessment as a starting point, take advantage of sessions with executive coaches to plan how you will maximize your program year to achieve your leadership development and career goals.
Communication Coaching	Elevate your communication skills through practical workshops and continue your development through one-on-one work with a professional communication coach. You can also choose to craft a six-minute presentation and deliver it to your classmates through Storytelling BBLs, a brown-bag lunch series.

Leadership Insights

Career Insights